Ads blamed for pre-teen smoking

CHILDREN are starting to smoke before they leave primary school because of inadequate Government protection from tobacco advertising in shops, teachers have claimed.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) last night urged Health Minister Mary Harney to introduce legal provisions to ban advertising of cigarettes on display behind counters.

“Primary teachers say that, despite current restrictions on the sale of cigarettes to children, large numbers of pre-teens are still starting to smoke,” said INTO general secretary John Carr.